Flush tank liner



May 1, 1962 Filed May 27, 1960 Fig.

E. J. SCHUH FLUSH TANK LINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edward J. Schulz INVENTOR.

' BY WW 3M May 1962 E. J. SCHUH 3,031,684

FLUSH TANK LINER Filed May 27, 1960 2 SheecsSheet 2 Fig. 3

Edward J. Schuh 1N VEN TOR.

States The present invention relates to a liner which is expressly, but not necessarily, designed and effectually adapted to be used in a toilet flush tank and which constitutes the container or reservoir for the tank water and which performs in a manner similar to analogous prior art liners.

Persons conversant with the state of the art to which the instant invention relates are aware that there has long existed a problem of satisfactorily eliminating or minimizing the accumulation of dripping condensate on exterior surfaces of closed toilet tanks. Constant temperature changes in the bathroom, in which the tank is usually installed, results in the tank sweating and dripping water runs down on the bowl, seat and floor. However, the problem has not gone unchallenged. Like this appli cant, other inventors motivated by the incentive to do something practical about the situation, have, at least in many instances, come to the conclusion, by inserting a proper water container and liner within the water space at the flush tank, satisfactory results are assured. It follows that it is an objective in the instant matter to adopt and use a simple, practical and an economical liner which is preferably constructed of commercial plastic material and to so construct the same that it will better and more satisfactorily accomplish the results herein under advisement.

With a view toward advancing the art, the liner herein proposed for adoption and use is preferably made from a proper grade of thin but sturdy commercial plastics, the exterior surfaces having cooperating spaced V-shaped ribs. The ribs are of limited V-shaped cross-section and the vertices or ridges are designed for minimal but eflective sealing contact with interior surfaces of the tank. In this manner dead-air spaces are provided which serve to perfect satisfactory insulating results.

Further, novelty is predicated on the multiple ribbed exterior surface construction described and wherein, in addition, the upper edges of the four walls of the liner have outstanding lateral flanges which join together in forming an endless flange, inner portions of the flange cooperating with the ribs in defining satisfactory deadair pockets and the extending marginal edge portion of the over-all flange providing a sealing lip which rests atop the walls of the flush tank and which may be adhesively secured and, in this manner, define a highly satisfactory interiorly insulated flush tank with the result that sweating and Water drippage is reduced to an acceptable minimum.

Briefly summarized, the preferred construction may be said to rely upon four featured advantages.

(1) The liner herein revealed is such in construction that it is susceptible of being built of relatively thin plastic material which is rigid enough to support the water therein with the only contact with the outside container through the medium of external V-shaped ribs running parallel around the surface of the liner.

(2) Because the construction is that herein disclosed, it lends itself to production from moldable commercial plastics with requisite accuracy and fits with requisite nicety within the receptacle portion of the flush tank.

3) By reason of the fact that the apical edges of the ribs contact interior surfaces of the tank, and because the marginal lip, rovided by the top endless flange is sealed by cement, it will be evident that effective dead-air spaces with desired insulating results are bad.

(4) Finally, this liner is so constructed that it has ice properly positioned openings therein to accommodate the plumbing or pipes. For example, in the bottom where two pipe openings are provided, small criss-cross V- shaped ribs are utilized in a manner to satisfactorily reinforce the material at these otherwise vulnerable points with the result that clamping nuts and gaskets can be relied upon to provide effective fluid-tight joints.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a conventional ilush tank with portions thereof broken away to expose portions of the liner or lining constructed in accordanw with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on the vertical line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the liner per se.

In the drawings, the toilet bowl, which is conventional, is denoted by the numeral 6 and the flush tmk by the numeral 8, said tank embodying the usual front and .back wall 10 and 12 and transverse end walls 14 and bottom wall (FIG. 3) 16. The lid or cover is denoted at 18. The plumbing need not be in detail in order to understand this invention. As already mentioned, the invention has to do with the readily insertable plastic or equivalent liner and container denoted by the numeral 20. This liner comprises: (FIG. 4) a bottom wall 22, longitudinal side walls 24 and end walls 26. This liner is fashioned from suitable commercial plastics, which while thin, is nevertheless sturdy and may be turned out in any desired color. The vertical sides and ends are provided with spaced parallel spacing, adapting and dead air spaceforming ribs 28. These ribs are \.'-shaped in cross-section as shown in FIG. 2 and the cross-section is limited and the apical edges or ridges 36 are such that they are intended to contact the interior surfaces of the tank walls in the manner shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular. By accurately making the liner with the ribs and fitting it with exactitude it will be evident that eflicient dead air spaces are provided. For further insulation needs, the bottom 22 is provided with ti-shaped cross ribs 32 and longitudinal intersecting ribs 34 providing a gridlike bottom, the ribs which function in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 3. The pipe openings are denoted at 36 and 38 and each construction is the same in that intersecting ribs and requisite in number closely related are provided. These ribs may be referred to by numerals 4t) and 42 in FIG. 4 wherein a reinforced honeycomb construction is provided. The collar 44 in FIG. 4 may be utilized for the obvious purpose illustrated in H6. 2.

With respect now to the flange means at the top, each wall is provided with a flange and the flanges are joined together to provide an endless flange which may be referred to generally by the numeral 46. The inner flange portions 4% bridge the adjacent ends of the ribs and provide an effective dead air space or seal. The lip portion 50, which projects beyond the vertices of the ribs, rests atop the brim of the box or tank as shown in FIG. 3 where it is shown as cemented in place as at 52.

The manner of installing the liner is quite clear and the features and advantages desired would appear to be self-evident.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A readily insertable liner for the receptacle portion of a flush tank, said liner made of moldable plastic material and corresponding in shape to the receptacle portion of the tank and embodying a horizontal bottom wall, vertical front, rear and end walls adapted When in use to cooperate in spaced parallelism with the bottom, front, rear and end Walls of the flush tank, the bottom Wall of the liner having crossing longitudinal and transverse depending V-shaped ribs, also having pipe-accommodating openings at prescribed places, the portions of the bottom wall immediately surrounding said openings being reinforced by cooperating rigidifying ribs smaller in dimension than the first-named ribs, the upper edge portions of the front, rear and end walls of the linear having laterally disposed outstanding flanges the outer marginal edge portions of which are adapted to overlie the upper edges of the Walls of the tank and are adapted to be cemented to the tank, and ribs on the exterior surfaces of the front, rear and end Walls, said ribs being ii-shaped in cross-section with the apical portions adapted to contact interior surfaces of the tank walls, said ribs extending from the plane of the bottom Wall up to and having their upper ends integrally joined with the underneath surfaces of the flanges and said flanges being of a cross-section appreciably greater than the cross-section of said last-named ribs. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Breny May 6, 1958 

